A new study has explored how the introduction of autonomous vessels powered by green fuels could reshape global logistics systems and accelerate the maritime industry’s transition to sustainable operations.
The paper from researchers at the Department of Technology, Management and Economics at the Technical University of Denmark, titled Redesigning logistics systems towards sustainability: the impact of autonomous green-fuelled ships, examines how the combination of autonomy with alternative fuels could reduce emissions, optimise routing, and improve the overall efficiency of maritime transport networks.
According to the study, autonomous ships operating on zero or low-emission fuels, coupled with new logistics models that make better use of port infrastructure and intermodal connections, could lower operational costs and emissions simultaneously. This could include an infrastructure featuring autonomous electric feeder vessels that connect to green-fuelled mother vessels, the report suggests.
The research includes a framework to evaluate the sustainability benefits of these technologies compared to existing logistics models, which includes key performance indicators (KPIs) for assessing the economic and environmental impacts of the proposed transition. However, the researchers note that widespread adoption would require significant digital integration and regulatory alignment to be successful.
A case study applying the researchers’ framework to real world data showed a reduction in pollutant emissions by 55% to 100%, a 60% to 80% drop in energy consumption, and a 40% reduction in operating expenses (OPEX).
